Device for the distribution of water in water-closets and the like.



F. BERARDI. DEVICE FOR- THE DISTRIBUTION OF WATER IN WATER GLOSETS AND TEE LIKE.

' APPLICATION FILED novgz'l, 1911.

Patented Feb. 20', 1912.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

fizz/ea 502 W i' aa a F. BERARDL DEVICE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF WATER IN WATER GLOSETS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION I1LED 110V. 27, 1911.

' Patented Feb. 20,- 1912.

3SHEETS-SHEET 2 F. BERARDI.

DEVICE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF WATER IN WATER GLOSETS AND THE LIKE.

- APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 27, 1911.

1,018,231 I Patented Feb.20, 1912.

3 SHEETSSHBET 3.

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FORTUNATO BER-ARDI, OF NAPLES, ITALY.

DEVICE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF WATER IN WATER-CLOSETS AND THEIJIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 27, 1911.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

Serial No. 662,693.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FORTUNATO BEuAnor, a subject of the King of Italy, and residing at 6 Via Chiatamone, Naples, Italy, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for the Distribution of \Vater in Water-Closets and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

The object of thepresent invention is a device for the distribution of water in water-closets, by whichsthe water, descending from a very small height, such as that in the carriages of railway trains, is under such strong pressure thatgeven a minimum quantity is sufficient for 'ihe cleansing and flushing of bowls with siphon tubes and the contemporaneous automatic clearance of the impure air of the water-closet. This, system may be adapted to water-closets in railway trains and marine vessels, all the inconveniences which mig derive from the inevitable oscillations 0 rolling having been pro Vi'dcd for and overcome.

The invention is illustrated in the accordpanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the hydraulic device in one of its forms; Fig. 1 is a detail View of the siphon tube of said device; Fig. 2 shows the hydraulic device arranged for manual operation; Figs. 3 and 3 are views of the hand pull device; Fig. t illustrates a detail of said device; Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein the lifting of the hydraulic counterpoise is rendered easier in the beginning; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of-the hydraulic device. Fig. 8 illustrates means forpreventing the key for the admission of water from becoming stopped up; and Figs.

9 and 9 are side elevations of an embodiment of the invention particularly designed for use in marine vessels.

A water tank 1- (Fig. 1) open on the floor above allows the water to flow into the reservoir -9- by means of the pipe -2-- furnished with a turn plug -3- which opens and closes automatically as will be explained fartheron, bymeans of the counterpoise's 5- 5 attached to the ends of the double lever -4-. One of these counterpoises 5 is constituted by a receiver 6 furnished with an aerator -6 and communicating with the reservoir 9 by means of the pipe 7 The metalpipe -7 is in two pieces joined together by a rubber tube -8 which allows the receiver to rise and fall by the closing and poise 5' by the cord -10-.

The reason for the automatic closing movement lies in the fact that the receiver 6 being in communication by means of the pipe 7 with the reservoir 9- becomes filled with water at the same time as the reservoir itself, so that when the receiver 6- is in the position O-A, and the level of the water coming from the tank -1 has reached the normal level .72 -1n the reservoir 9 the receiver -6., on

account of the water qpntained in it, is

heavier than the counterpoise -5 and therefore drops down into the position O-B closing the key .3 and thus arresting the flow of the water into the reservoir 9.

If, instead, the cord 10- be pulled, the

receiver rises into position O-C and, emptying itself, becomes lighter and acts so that the key 3 remains open until the Working described above of the filling and closing takes place again. The water that flows out of the receiver 6- when the cord -10 is pulled passes by means of the pipe -7 into the reservoir ---9 raising the level in the latter and by that means causing the discharge of the same by means of the siphon pipe -13. The key 3- may be eased with a suitable lubricant, as will be explained farther on, although this is really superfluous on account of the very slight rubbing due to the extremely low pressure.

In insuring the action of the discharge and its considerable pressure,.the following features take part:

1. The form of the siphon pipe 13- (Fig. 1) which is flattened in the angle 12 although in its greatest width its section is the same as that of the two branches of the said siphon pipe, which flattening allows the water to pass the top .of the siphon pipe more rapidly.

2. The upper part of -the reservoir 9-- u i made with a minimum space over the siphon poise pipe with a curbin the form of a little tower and with a reduction at the little turn -l4.-- which so acts that the water rises rapidly by the smaller free surface.

3. And mainly (Fig. 1 in order to ob tain a rapid working, the disposition of the pipe 7- the end of which is in front of the opening of the siphon pipe -11- with the exception of a short interruption 'l5--. The raising of the receiver causing a pressure in the water that is discharged from it, acts so that the same rising rapidly is passed into the siphon pipe and through the angle passing into its descending arm in order to obtain a greater pressure contemporaneously with the raising of its level.

4-. The form of the hydraulic courjorpoise, the outer involucre ol the base of which is cylindrical, a part -lG- of it remaining entirely empty of water and a frame '17 placed around the aerator, in respect to which it is mounted cccentrically in such a way that it remains displaced from the opposite side of the receiver -6- in respect to the said aerator. This frame is attached to a conical receiver -18 which connects it to the pipe or receiver -6-.

In order that the ascending and descending movement of the receiver -'G- may be limit-ed there are two stopping points, one for the ascent 20---- furnished with the rubber --E2l.- to deadcn the shock produced by the traction of the cord 10, and the other for arresting the descent of the receiver into the position OB.

'lo control the siphon pipe by hand, the device shown inFigs. 2, 3, and t may be made use of. As will be seen in Fig. 2 the end of the lever l from which hangs the hydraulic counterpoise -t3- is attached in this embodiment to a chain GO-' which resting on a support Gl is joined to a rope 62' at the beginning of which there is a knot or enlargement 63. This knot in the pulling is resisted by an arresting ring 64- fixed in the wall as seen in Fig. at so that the extent of the pulling is limited, and there is no danger that a too energetic tug may injure the pulling device attached to it. 'lhe rope :2 then passes around suitable return pulleys, a horizontal one -t35-- and a vertical one 6G poised on suitable supports t57- (see'Figs. 3 and 3") ending in a handle-68-. In order that the hydraulic receiver 6- may be ready for a new descent after being filled, the

chain --G0- must be slackened. The small chain -(39- (Fig. 3) which is attached to the rope --62-- and held tight by a counterpassing over the pulley 7 1-'- provides for this purpose. As soon as the rope -62.-- is freed after a working of the siphon pipe, it is immediately freed by the above mentioned counterpoise -l"0-.- which slant-tens it. The water mast not descend into the before mentioned receiver below a given level indicated for instance by the arrows 72 in Fig. 2 in order that too much water may not be needed to start the siphon pipe. 1t on the contrary advisable that this level be indicated in such a way as to be easily controlled, by arranging a piece of transparent glass in a portion of the wall of the tank at the corresponding height, on which the said. arrow may be indicated with a metallic wire. Experience has shown that generally speaking this remains constant for a long time. It might vary, however, through a too sudden or too slow descent of the hydraulic counterpoise --6. This rapidity of descent may be caused by a decrease in the force necessary for turning the key 3- (decrease due to the contraction of the metal through cold, wearing out, etc., or through the expansion of the metal or oxidation). In order to avoid these inconveniences I have projected various ways of carrying out some means for preventing the too sudden descent of the hydraulic counter poise -6-, as also the too slow descent of the same.

In Fig. 2 is shown one of the forms for carrying out this principle. According to this embodiment a hook -73- is attached to the weight. 5. When the descent of the hydraulic counterpoise takes place too ab ruptly an auxiliary weight -7 l is attached to the weight 5'- by means of the above mentioned hook -23. In consequence of this the descent of the hydraulic counterpoise is rendered less rapid, so that before the descent has caused the closing of the key 'the water has been able to reach the level desired. Inversely, one of the weights is taken away the fixed weight being under pressure to make it descend more rapidly. Another means for lessening the rapidity of thcdcscent of the counterpoise -6- and render the control softer at the same time is also represented in Figs. 2 and 5, and consisls in attaching the weight -5 to the arm 75 of the control lever -4- of the key by means of a lengthened eye -76- It will be seen that at the beginning of the descent of the counter-poise -6- (as shown in Fig. 5) the lever arm of the weight -5 is increased, and therefore the lowering of the said counterpoise -6- is decreased in rapidity. On the other hand this arm is decreased at the commencement of the pulling to raise the said eounterpoise and thus attach the siphon pipe, and the pulling is thus rendered easier. The inverse .will be inl made for rendering the action slower. A

more eltic'acious brake on the descent ofthe hydraulic counterpolise, which allows the level of the water in the distributin tank or reservoir -9 to arrive at the lieight desired with more precision which'is mainly required in railway and marine transports 6 is attached to a shaft or rigid metal wire 77 to the end of which is attached by means of a hook 78 a rope -79 which winds over a pulley 80-. The pulley S0 is not circular but almost elliptic and is poised eccentrically so that at the beginning of the descent of the counterpoise 6- the lever arni of the opposing weight 8lis longer. Consequently in this case also the descent takes place more slowly at the beginning and more rapidly toward the end. in order to cause the perfect closing of the key. Vice versa the pulling to raise the hydraulic counterpoise is much softer, 1n

the beginning. It may be that the key 3 may otter too much resistance to being turned and may become stuck. This will be due either to expansion caused by heat, or through rusting or some other cause. In this case the opposite inconvenience would take place, namely, that the counterpoise -6 would he iZOOiI'OUblGSOIIlG to lower, meeting the resistance of the key, and in this case also too much water would be uselessly wasted. In order to obviate this inconvenience the casing 82 of the key (Fig. 8) is formed withorifices 83 and with nipples 8% having screw stoppers 85 the outer edgesot' which are toothed in order that they may be easily turned. By twisting these. stoppers the grease which is contained in them runs through the holes 83- on to the key. By causing this to revolve with a maneuver ot' the key the grease spreads over the whole surface thus diminishing the triotion which prevents the rotation without its being dismounted is gcnerallydone.

For the application of the device to marine vessels it is also advisable to introduce another vcry important modification. This modification shown in Fig. 9 has also the scope of causing the closing of the key whenever the charge should he likely to take place through the oscillations or rolling of the ship either by the spontaneous attachment of the siphon pipe or by the displacement of the hydraulic countcrpoise consequent on the said oscillation. In this case, as shown in Fig. 5), an arched lever 86- is arranged poised in its center -8'(' This lever bea rs on its upper part a guide 88- with two stops at the ends, on which guide a roller 89 may he run. -Attached to the under part of the roller by means of a yoke is a weight -!)0. The two ends of the lever 8(3 are attached by means of a chain 9l which extends around a pulley -9 placed vertically under the hearing 87- of the lever 86-.- ()n the shaft of this pulley 92 is fastened an elliptic'piece 93- which acts as a lever, with its greater 99. The pulley axis'horizontal, to the ends of which two small chains 94 are attached which by means of a lever 95- Work a key 96 mounted in the piping above the key worked by the hydraulic counterpoise. Thus with the oscillations of'the ship the roller -8S) runs on the guide -88- and on account of the weight attached to it turns the lever 86- now in one direction and'now in another. The pulley -92 consequently revolves now in one direction and now in another and the key 96 is closed or opened. In order that it maybe keptopen during the use of the water-closet, another lever -9 7 is mounted on the shaft of the pulley 92, the chain -99 being attached to the ends of the former by means of the two branches 98. This chain -99, as seen in Fig. 9. is lengthened until it reaches under the seat and is attached to the end of a lever 100 fixed to the other end of a wheel '10loperatively connect-- ed to the seat. tends another chain -102,' from one end of which hangs the Weight- -103. The other end of it is attached to the seat, passing first under a suitable return pulley 104. Whenever any one sits on the seat the pulley 104 is lowered and is consequently caused to rotate by the weight l03 from the chain 102 turning around it. consequence the lever 100 which is fixed to it also rotates and draws down the chain -92 thus is prevented from revolving or if it is displaced from the corresponding position to the opening of the key 96 is returned to this position. The said key thus remains open.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus of the character described, including a distribution tank, a siphon therein, a source of supply therefor provided with a controlling key, a water receiver having a Over this wheel '10l exmovable connection and communicating with said tank, and operatively connected to said key and provided with an aerator, and means connected to said key for actuating the 1atter in opposition to said receiver.

2. An apparatus of the character de. cribed, including a distribution tank, a sipho -there in, a source of supply for said tank p 'ovided with a controlling key, acounterpoised reccivcr operatively connected to said key and communicating with said tank, a valve interposed between the source of supply and said key and gravity controlled means operatively connected to said valve to control the latter.

An apparatus of the character described, including a distribution tank, a siphon there in, a source of supply for said tank provided with a controlling key, a counterpoised receiver operatively connected to said key and communicating with said tank, a valve interposed between the source of supply and said key, gravity controlled means eperat-ively connected to said valve to control the latter, and means for holding said last named means inoperative.

d. An apparatus of the character described including a distribution tank, a siphon there in, a source of supply for said tank provided with a controlling key, a counterpoised receiver, operatively connected to said key and communicating with said tank, a valve interposed between the source of supply and said key gravity cont-rolled means operatively connected to said valve to control the latter and a rolling connection for said valve, a support therefor and a relatively rigid connection between said valve connection and said support.

An apparatus of the character described, including a distribution tank, a siphon therein, a source of supply for said tank provided with a controlling key, a counterpoised receiver operatively connected to said key and communicating with said tank, a valve interposed between the source of supply and said key, gravity controlled means operatively connected to said valve to control. the latter, a lever controlling said valve a guide, a rolling support, movable on said guide and operatively connected to said lever, and means for moving said valve according to the position of the rolling sup port relative to the guide.

6. An apparatus of the character described including a dis ribution tank, a siphon therein, a source of supply for said tank provided With a. controlling key, a counterpoised receiver operatively connected to said key and communicating with said tank, a valve interposed between the source of supply and said key, gravity con trolled means operatively connected to said valve to control the latter, and means for holding said last named means inoperative.

7. An apparatus of the character described, including a distribution tank, a siphon therein, a counterpoised receiver operatively connected to and communicating with said tank, a supply for said tank provided With a key, said receiver being operatively connected to said key, a connection between the source of supply and said key, provided with a valve, a rocking guide, a roller freely mounted on said guide and connected to said connection, a lever controlling the valve of said connection, a rocking element having a flexible connection with said guide, and. also connected to said lever, and means for holding said rocking element relatively stationary.

In witness whereof I, the said FORTUNATO Brenner, have signed this specification at Naples in the Kingdom of Italy, November 1911.

FORTUNATU BERARDI.

In the presence of tWo-Witnesses Giovanni Barnum,

liiorrns lurnrnsn. 

